self-hardening

[ self-hahr-dn-ing, self- ]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to any of various steels that harden after heating without quenching or other treatment.

Other Words From

• self-hardened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-hardening¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

She started constructing backdrops, gluing together Popsicle sticks, molding things from self-hardening clay.

From Washington Post

A large gray ball of self-hardening clay and a black medicine ball are also on hand as three-dimensional equivalents.

From New York Times

Of course, what has been said about burning applies more particularly to carbon steel, but even self-hardening steels are not improved by being over-heated at the stone.

From Project Gutenberg

Its alloy is much used for high-speed cutting tools, the steel hardening when cooled in the air and being called self-hardening.

From Project Gutenberg

Molybdenum is used to increase the hardness to a high degree and makes the steel suitable for high-speed cutting and gives it self-hardening properties.

From Project Gutenberg